OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — School officials in Ottumwa say they’ll change how they raise money for student trips to abide by state guidelines even though the move could threaten a program that has helped thousands of children to travel around the country. Iowa Department of Education guidelines indicate the Ottumwa Educational Travel Program, which has operated since 1976, is no longer permitted to keep individual accounts for students.

The Des Moines Register reports that Evans Middle School travel program director Larry Northup says any funds raised by students moving forward will be shared and split evenly among the group. That includes the $14,500 that is currently in the students’ separate accounts. The district intends to start pooling the funds beginning next school year.

Northup noted that parents are unhappy with the rule change.